Saudi- Prisoners in Hail get fresh welfare facilities

(MENAFN- Arab News) RIYADH: Hail Deputy Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saad bin Abdul Aziz opened a series of welfare services including family rooms and computer classes at the prisons in Hail some 500km from the capital.
On arrival Director of Prisons Major General Abdul Rahman bin Abdullah Al-Hazmi welcomed the prince and took him on a tour of the new facilities which were created for the welfare of the inmates of the prison.
The facilities and services included family rooms guest rooms and a program on distance education which entails computers smart devices which will help a section of the prisoners to complete their university and college education.
Speaking on the occasion Prince Saad said the services will be carried out in accordance with Islamic principles which propagate such services for those under arrest too.
He commended the level of design and decor of the family rooms which he described as equal to five star hotels.
Al-Hazmi praised the wise leadership of the deputy governor who is keen on developing education through distance learning for the benefit of the prisoners. 'It is a qualitative leap in the prisoner's life through the development of these family and educational programs that made them interact with their community.'
In Madinah Major General Sabah bin Ayed Al-Zamhari director of Prisons Administration in Madinah region also opened the 'family home complex' within the prison's quarters. The family home contains 10 five-star suites located at the prison administration.
Maj. Gen. Al-Zamhari explained that the family home benefits prisoners who have completed three months inside the jail. It is a program where the prisoner's families can spend a day with the prisoners. He added that food and beverages are provided during such a period and the costs are paid in full by the Directorate General of Prisons.
Col. Saleh bin Ali Al-Qahtani head of prisons in Makkah said the Makkah prisons department has embarked on the development of regulations and rules to enable prisoners to work outside prisons and return as per strategies and guidelines established in partnership between the private sector and the Ministry of Labor.
According to recommendations and regulations prisoners should have a remaining prison sentence of at least four months while Al-Qahtani suggested that priority should be given to inmates who are heads of family and that the pay scale should start from SR4000. He added that a number of private sector companies have approached the prisons in Makkah to recruit a number of inmates.